Topics Overview

Learn the truth about the effects, caveats, accessibility issues, barriers to entry, and uses of role-playing games for ages 2 through 102+ years old. Includes all RPG formats.

An introduction to some of the measurable effects of these intervention modalities across a wide range of diverse population needs, disabilities, and cultures. Examples from programs across 6 continents and over 40 years of research and evidence-in-practice.

Populations

• ADHD
• Ages 2 through 100+ years old
• At-risk, high-risk, and incarcerated populations
• Autism spectrum
• Brain injuries
• Blind / VI
• Deaf / HoH
• Depression and suicidality
• Muscular Dystrophy and other neuromuscular populations
• Learning disabilities/differences
• Non-verbal/pre-verbal toddlers
• Phobias
• and many others

Caveats & Recommendations

• Accessibility
• Barriers to Entry
• Learning curve
• Professional standards in pactice
• Pros and cons of each format
• Specific game recommendations for specific populations or goals

Development Areas

• Anger/behavior/impulse self-regulation
• Communication
• Empathy
• Mathematics
• Mindfulness and Theory of Mind
• Literacy
• Resilience and "grit"
• many others

RPG Formats

• Tabletop (TRPG)
• Live-action (LRPG and larp)
• Electronic (ERPG, audio-only, including xR/AR/VR, AI, BCI+ neutotech)
• Hybrid (HRPG)

About The Speaker: "Grandfather of Therapeutic Gaming"

• Featured in books, magazines, research papers, and shows including HBO's Vice Media, GenCon TV, Wizards of the Coast Dragon Talk, and many others.
• Featured at many events like GenCon, WorldCon, ATRA, PAX Unplugged, and many others.

Hawke Robinson is a Washington State Department of Health Registered Recreation Therapist, technology innovator, game designer, neurotechnology innovator, and psychology researcher with expertise on using recreation and games to improve functioning, accessibility, mental health, and quality of life for all ages across a wide range of disabilities and distinctive learning styles.

Hawke Robinson has more than 45 years multidisciplinary experience with evidence-in-practice and research studying the effects and uses of all role-playing game formats (tabletop, live-action, electronic, and hybrids).

Advisor on ethical game design, striking healthy the balance between "stickiness" and well-being of the participants.

Founder and Executive Director of the 501(c)3 non-profit RPG Research RPG Research Website, Chief Technology Officer of the for-profit ManufacturingPower & iNSUPPLi.

President and Founder of the for-profit RPG Therapeutics LLC and associated RPG.LLC services.
Inventor of the wheelchair accessible RPG Bus, RPG Trailers, and the RPG Mobile fleet
Creator of the Certified Role-Playing Game Professional programs.
Author of half a dozen books and hundreds of papers.

Learn more about Hawke at the Hawke Robinson Website.

Summary Recap

This session is a live, online, remote, 60 minute introduction to the core research, evidence-in-practice, resources, and concepts related to the effects, and potential therapeutic uses of role-playing games.